Thứ Sáu, 18 tháng 7, 2014

Asian nations shocked, saddened at loss of MH17 plane

Distraught family members of passengers on board MH17 are seen at Marriot Putrajaya, July 18, 2014. ― File picSYDNEY, July 18 ― The loss of a second Malaysia Airlines plane within six months left Asia-Pacific nations shocked and saddened today, prompting calls for a full investigation and a day of mourning in Australia.

All 298 people on board Flight MH17 en route to Kuala Lumpur from Amsterdam died when the plane crashed near a Ukrainian village Thursday, leaving a trail of carnage on the ground. American officials believe it was shot down over Ukrainian airspace.

Among those on the plane were 12 Indonesians, and that country’s President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono said if the plane was shot at with military weapons, it was a violation of international law and “even the laws of war”.

“Because of this, if the investigation proves that this is what did indeed happen, Indonesia hopes those responsible are sanctioned and handed a heavy punishment,” he said in a televised press conference.

He urged Indonesians to avoid flights over war and conflict zones, including Ukraine, the Ukraine-Russia border and the Gaza Strip.

Australia, which said 28 of its nationals were onboard the doomed flight, also wants a full investigation, with Prime Minister Tony Abbott urging Russia to cooperate fully with any inquiry.

“As things stand this looks less like an accident than a crime,” Abbott told parliament, following an emergency meeting of the government’s national security committee.

Abbott, who called it a “grim day for our country”, said flags would be flown at half mast on Saturday on all government buildings as a mark of respect.

A service marking a national day of mourning would be held at a later time “when the families of those who have lost their lives have had time to comprehend this horrific event”, he added.

“Shocked and saddened to hear about the crash,” said Singapore Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong on his Facebook page.

The Boeing 777 Malaysian Airlines aircraft with the registration number 9M-MRD lands early morning in Vienna in this July 14, 2005 file photo. — Reuters pic

A general view shows the site of a Malaysia Airlines Boeing 777 plane crash in the settlement of Grabovo in the Donetsk region, July 17, 2014. — Reuters pic

An Emergencies Ministry member works at the site of a Malaysia Airlines Boeing 777 plane crash in Grabovo in the Donetsk region, July 17, 2014. — Reuters pic

Emergencies Ministry members work at the site of a Malaysia Airlines Boeing 777 plane crash in the settlement of Grabovo in the Donetsk region, July 17, 2014. — Reuters pic

The site of a Malaysia Airlines Boeing 777 plane crash is seen in the settlement of Grabovo in the Donetsk region, July 17, 2014. — Reuters pic

The site of a Malaysia Airlines Boeing 777 plane crash is seen in the settlement of Grabovo in the Donetsk region, July 17, 2014. — Reuters pic

An armed pro-Russian separatist stands at a site of a Malaysia Airlines Boeing 777 plane crash in the settlement of Grabovo in the Donetsk region, July 17, 2014. — Reuters pic

Emergencies Ministry members walk at the site of a Malaysia Airlines Boeing 777 plane crash in the settlement of Grabovo in the Donetsk region, July 17, 2014. — Reuters pic

A man walks past the Malaysia Airlines check-in area at Kuala Lumpur International Airport in Sepang July 18, 2014. — Reuters pic

A man stands in front of a display showing plane locations around Malaysia at Kuala Lumpur International Airport in Sepang July 18, 2014. — Reuters pic

The site of a Malaysia Airlines Boeing 777 plane crash is seen near the settlement of Grabovo in the Donetsk region, July 17, 2014. — Reuters pic

A part of the wreckage of the Malaysia Airlines MH17 plane is seen after it crashed near the settlement of Grabovo in the Donetsk region, July 18, 2014. — Reuters pic

Family members inquire about the flight name list following the tragic news of Malaysia Airlines Flight MH1 at the Kuala Lumpur International Airport, July 18, 2014. — Picture by Choo Choi May

Family members wait for news outside Anjung Tinjau following the tragic news of Malaysia Airlines Flight MH1 at the Kuala Lumpur International Airport, July 18, 2014. — Picture by Choo Choi May

The site of a Malaysia Airlines Boeing 777 plane crash is seen near the settlement of Grabovo in the Donetsk region, July 17, 2014. — Reuters pic

People take photos of a screen showing arrival details of Malaysia Airlines flight MH17 (centre) at Kuala Lumpur International Airport in Sepang July 18, 2014. — Reuters pic

A “no entry” sign stands at the entrance to a Malaysia Airlines check-in counter at Kuala Lumpur International Airport July 18, 2014. — Reuters pic

The wreckage of a Malaysia Airlines Boeing 777 plane (back) is seen, with sunflowers in the foreground, near the settlement of Grabovo in the Donetsk region, July 17, 2014. — Reuters pic

Smoke rises from the site of a Malaysia Airlines Boeing 777 plane crash near the settlement of Grabovo in the Donetsk region, July 17, 2014. — Reuters pic

Armed pro-Russian separatists stand at the site of a Malaysia Airlines Boeing 777 plane crash near the settlement of Grabovo in the Donetsk region, July 17, 2014. — Reuters pic

The upper floor of Schiphol Airport is closed for media and reserved for family and relatives of Malaysia Airlines flight MH-17, July 17, 2014. — Reuters pic

A screen showing arrival details of Malaysia Airlines flight MH17 (4th from top) is seen at Kuala Lumpur International Airport in Sepang July 18, 2014. — Reuters pic

A woman (front), who said she believed her sister was on Malaysia Airlines flight MH-17, cries as she waits for more information about the crashed plane, at Kuala Lumpur International Airport in Sepang, July 18, 2014. — Reuters pic

People, who said they believed they had relatives on Malaysia Airlines flight MH17, wait for more information about the crashed plane at Kuala Lumpur International Airport in Sepang July 18, 2014. — Reuters pic

Armed pro-Russian separatists stand at the site of a Malaysia Airlines Boeing 777 plane crash near the settlement of Grabovo in the Donetsk region, July 17, 2014. — Reuters pic

Family members of MH17 looking through the name list at the reception centre at Kuala Lumpur International Airport. — Photo by Choo Choo May

Smoke rises above the site of a Malaysia Airlines Boeing 777 plane crash near the settlement of Grabovo in the Donetsk region, July 17, 2014. — Reuters pic

Malaysia Airlines Flight MH-17 is seen at the G3 gate of Schiphol Airport in Amsterdam, before it took off, heading to Kuala Lumpur, July 17, 2014. — Reuters pic

A woman holds a sign that reads, ‘Putin is a terrorist’, as people bring flowers and candles to the Dutch embassy to commemorate the victims of the Malaysia Airlines Boeing 777 plane crash, in Kiev, July 17, 2014. — Reuters pic

One of the family members collapse after looking at the manifest at Anjung Tinjau, Kuala Lumpur International Airport. — Photo by Choo Choo May

People light candles at the Malaysian embassy for victims of Malaysia Airlines MH17, which crashed in eastern Ukraine, in Kiev July 17, 2014. ― Reuters pic

People leave candles and flowers at the Dutch embassy for victims of Malaysia Airlines MH17, which crashed in eastern Ukraine, in Kiev July 17, 2014. ― Reuters pic

Flowers are placed outside the departure hall, in the wake of the downed Flight MH17, at Schiphol Airport July 18, 2014. — Reuters pic

The Malaysian national flag flies at half-staff at the Malaysian embassy in The Hague July 18, 2014. — Reuters pic

A bouquet of flowers is placed on a Malaysia Airlines counter at Schiphol Airport July 18, 2014. — Reuters pic

A woman lights candles at a memorial for victims of the downed Malaysia Airlines Flight MH17 in Kuala Lumpur July 18, 2014. — Reuters pic

Members of the United Nations Security Council observe a moment of silence for the victims of Flight MH17 at the United Nations headquarters in New York July 18, 2014. — Reuters pic

A woman prays during a special prayer held for the victims of downed Malaysia Airlines Flight MH17 in Kuala Lumpur July 18, 2014. — Reuters pic

Singapore’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs said it stood in solidarity with its neighbour Malaysia, which is still reeling from the loss of Malaysia Airlines Flight MH370 due to unknown causes in March.

That plane, which was carrying 239 people, is thought to have crashed in the Indian Ocean but no sign of it has yet been found.

“It is important that a full and transparent investigation take place to establish what caused the crash,” the ministry said of the latest incident.

New Zealand Foreign Minister Murray McCully also called for a full investigation as he confirmed one citizen, normally resident in Australia, was on MH17 and had been travelling with her Dutch husband.

A British woman who was a long-time resident of New Zealand was also among the victims, he added.

“We call for independent investigators to be allowed access to the crash site,” McCully said in a statement.

Most onboard MH17 were Dutch, but there were also 43 Malaysians, nine Britons, four Germans, three people from the Philippines, one Canadian and one from Hong Kong, as well as the Australians. ― AFP